Growth issues divide Oxnard School District

Construction will be in the Oxnard School District’s near future as school leaders consider ways to deal with a rapidly growing student population.

Whether that construction should be in the form of temporary classrooms was a subject of a special school board meeting Wednesday night. It was a discussion only, and the board took no action.

Superintendent Cesar Morales wants to see if a state bond measure being discussed for the November ballot could bring funding to build new schools. He doesn’t support short-term solutions like bringing in portable structures.

“In November with a state bond, that will give us a lot more options to aggressively pursue building new permanent facilities,” Morales said. “My fear is we initiate a band-aid approach too soon.”

Morales said adding portables now to keep class sizes small would cost about $6 million. That means the district would have to cancel one of the expansion projects currently being designed for Elm and Lemonwood schools, two of the oldest campuses in the district.

The district is planning to tear down the old buildings at Elm, Lemonwood and Harrington schools to build new, permanent structures.

More than 16,800 students attend the 20-school district — about 1,250 more than four years ago. In 2020, the district projects a student body of 20,000.

As it faces some major growing pains, the district is under pressure by parents and teachers to keep class sizes low. They have the support of at least one school board member.

Trustee Denis O’Leary said he doesn’t want overcrowded classrooms.

“The idea from the get-go is to build permanent buildings, get rid of portables. On the other hand, it was not foreseen we’d increase the way we have been. We have to adapt,” O’Leary said. “I wish portables were not in existence, but educating students may call for that at the moment.”

Class sizes at most district schools are between 28 and 35 students. Some schools that have enjoyed lower class sizes in previous years — 24 students or less — will likely get more crowded.

Larger class sizes mean some students will fall through the cracks, said Michele Harris-Padron, a first-grade teacher at Soria School.

“This is not a question of money but of philosophy. The Oxnard school board simply does not believe class size reduction is a priority,” Harris-Padron said. “If they had the will to reduce class size, the district would surely find a way.”